Owner V: Church Farm School (“CFS”):

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 CFS became the owner of the joint properties when it acquired them from Laird Snowden in 1953.CFS used the property as a dormitory for a period of ~20 years, and next to no maintenance was done. In the 1980’s lead paint and asbestos became a widely known health and environmental issue. Because of the renovation by Kates in 1905, he used the most modern construction materials, which included asbestos cement roofing material, asbestos insulation for pipes and walls, the property was an environmental disaster to house young men. This was the reason CFS boarded up and abandoned the structures. There was no longer heat, electricity, plumbing, or roofs, and all failed. Broken windows went unrepaired for more than a decade. Large holes in the asbestos roof allowed water to pour in, buckling floors and rotting floor joists. (see

pictures) 

It was the awareness and serious associated liability of lead paint throughout the buildings and a massive amount of loose asbestos covering the basement pipes, as well as asbestos floor tiles and the entire roof material, asbestos cement shingles that were deteriorating and leaching asbestos, ensured any historic value was of no interest to CFS. This did not stop the pressure applied by diligent/concerned members of the West Whiteland Historical Society (“WWHS”) from pushing CFS to do repairs to stop the deterioration, as they were very aware of its significant history.

CFS proved to be resistant to the history, lacked the will, or did not have the millions in funding that were needed. CFS opted to look for a buyer.

Their first willing buyer was the Rouse Co. They failed to get township approval to develop again, largely due to the hard work of the WWHS. The next option was Chester County. CC successfully bought the entirety and was clear in carving out all the historic properties to avoid the liabilities and responsibilities that are incumbent on the ownership of historic locations. They agreed on property lines either from ignorance or obtuse disrespect of the historic value, or had the same assumption as CFS…the buildings were condemned and never going to be revived, contrary to WWHS. Without doubt, CFS knew where existing septic systems, various infrastructures were, but completely ignored them at Hewson Cox / Kates House and Carriage House, as well as the 925 Jacobs Barn. After the purchase of land from CFS, Jacobs Barn was initially in joint care and custody with West Whiteland township.

For CFS, the guiding motivation was to maximize the per-acre price the county was to pay them, and for the county to eliminate historical responsibility maintenance obligations and maximize the per-acre price paid by the county.

The county parks department assumed the liability of the historic spring (as noted in their study of historic properties). Unfortunately, shortly after their ownership, a large tree choked by invasive species fell and broke the ridge beam of the building. They opted to install a chain link fence instead of repairing the damage to preserve the building and its function. Over the past 28 years of their stewardship, the spring-fed pond was neglected, filled with muck, and various desirable old-grown Douglass fir, black and red oak (endangered species) have died due to invasive species, leaving the pond (clearly noted on state, county, railroad, and township maps dating from 1867 to present) a mosquito-infested muck pit. It seems the county remains with the potential liability of this area.

CFS used the 925 structures as a pig barn from the mid 1950’s until 1980. During this period, they installed a concrete block south face wall, a concrete block 2-car garage, a prestressed concrete floor, a bathroom, a kitchen, and an asphalt roof, heater, and septic system (which turned out to be excluded from CFS/CCP drew property lines during ownership change, see map).